Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades Prediction & Match Preview – BBL 2025-26
Match summary
BBL 2025-26 Melbourne derby preview: Stars vs Renegades at the MCG, with form, key players, pitch, weather and expected totals.
Match details
| Match | Melbourne Stars vs Melbourne Renegades, 22nd Match |
|---|---|
| Series | Big Bash League 2025-26 |
| Date | 4 Jan 2026 |
| Start time | 07:05 am GMT / 06:05 pm local |
| Venue | Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne |
| Status | Played |
| Our pick | Melbourne Stars |
| Toss pick | Melbourne Renegades |
Matches in this series
Match preview
Melbourne Stars take on Melbourne Renegades at the MCG in the 22nd match of BBL 2025-26. The Stars won four of their first five matches, although their unbeaten run ended in the last game, and they want to bounce back quickly to stay in the top two.
Thomas Fraser-Rogers and Sam Harper open, and Harper has been the leading run-scorer with 231 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 158. Glenn Maxwell, Marcus Stoinis and Campbell Kellaway provide the middle-order firepower, with Tom Curran and Hilton Cartwright offering depth. Haris Rauf and Peter Siddle have taken 20 wickets between them, Mitch Swepson controls the spin, and Curran and Stoinis have 17 wickets combined.
The Renegades have one win and three defeats and sit near the bottom, needing a strong showing to keep finals hopes alive. Tim Seifert has made 170 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 175, and Oliver Peake has 113 at 145. Josh Brown and Jake Fraser-McGurk have each passed 70.
Jason Behrendorff has four wickets at 9.61 an over, with Gurinder Sandhu and Will Sutherland sharing 10, but the attack has struggled to hold pressure against strong batting sides.
The MCG offers a true, sporting surface with something for both batters and bowlers. Quick bowlers can extract bounce and carry from the slightly grassed pitch early, so discipline matters in the first few overs. The pitch then flattens, letting batters play freely and build large totals. Spinners receive limited help but can contain runs.
The evening is expected to be mild at about 20–21 °C, with partly cloudy skies and intermittent sunshine. There is little chance of rain, and winds should be light to moderate.
Expected scores
| Innings | Predicted | Actual |
|---|---|---|
| First innings | 160–180 | – |
| Second innings | 150–175 | – |
Melbourne Stars
The Stars have four wins from five and a strong bowling attack, while the Renegades have one win from four.
Toss pick: Melbourne Renegades
FAQ
Who are favourites in the Melbourne derby?
Our preview picks Melbourne Stars, who have won four of their first five matches.
Who leads the Stars’ batting this season?
Sam Harper, with 231 runs in five matches at a strike rate of 158.
Which Renegades player has been in best form?
Tim Seifert, who has 170 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 175.
Probable XIs
Expected line-ups from our preview. c = captain, wk = wicketkeeper.
Melbourne Stars
- Thomas Fraser Rogers
- Sam Harperwk
- Campbell Kellaway
- Blake Macdonald
- Marcus Stoinisc
- Glenn Maxwell
- Hilton Cartwright
- Tom Curran
- Mitchell Swepson
- Haris Rauf
- Peter Siddle
Melbourne Renegades
- Josh Brown
- Tim Seifert
- Mohammad Rizwanwk
- Jake Fraser-McGurk
- Oliver Peake
- Matthew Spoors
- Hassan Khan
- Will Sutherlandc
- Andrew Tye
- Gurinder Sandhu
- Jason Behrendorff